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| Anchor on shore in Duluth, Minnesota. Shoreline of Lake Superior |
The book of Revelation serves as balm for our hearts and illuminates the truths we must hold fast as we process the love of God in suffering. As I studied chapters 10 and 11 this past week, three points stood out.
First, rejection is par for the course in sharing the gospel.
And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it in my stomach was made bitter. And I was told, "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings." (Revelation 10:10, 11)
Before diving into this first main point let me address a side note. I think the mighty angel mentioned at the beginning of the chapter is exactly that—an angel, likely sent from God's throne since his imagery mirrors what we read in earlier chapters about the throne of God. While this angel appears to have some more divine characteristics, he submits to God and probably is the same strong angel mentioned back in chapter 5. Also, in Hebrews 1:4 it states that Jesus is superior to angels so I don't think it makes sense to describe Jesus as an angel here. Finally, the pattern in Revelation for passing along this divine message (if we go back to 1:1) is God the Father to God the Son to an angel to John.
Now back to John and this scroll. As we read earlier, this scroll symbolizes God's judgment and salvation. So in a nutshell this is the gospel. In the Old Testament, Ezekiel was instructed to eat a scroll from God. The point is to make God's message ours. John is instructed to take God's message and share it with everyone, but while it may taste sweet in his mouth his stomach feels bitter. This is the reality of sharing the gospel—to some it is the fragrance of life, while to others it is the fragrance of death (2 Corinthians 2:16). Both responses are a work of God.
Often we see God's prophets instructed to share truth with His people, but told to prepare themselves for rejection. The prophets frequently shared a message that was refused and resulted in punishment. John is essentially receiving this same mission and the book of Revelation reflects this reality. Also, in Revelation references to kings symbolize those who reject God. At the end of 10:11 "and kings" is added on to the peoples, nations, and languages phrase. The implication is to share with those who will indeed reject the truth proclaimed. But this does not excuse John from faithfully sharing the gospel even though many would refuse to repent and believe. And so it is with us—we must faithfully proclaim the gospel despite rejection.
Second, only God knows it all.
No matter what happens during our own lives as we strive to take up our cross and follow Jesus, God also lovingly reminds us that only He knows everything.
And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, do not write it down." (Revelation 10:4)
While this may appear odd for John to include something he heard but told to not explain (even though he knew what was spoken), it reveals some of who our God is—omniscient. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours are (Isaiah 55:8, 9). Even as God is mercifully revealing the hard path ahead and showcasing His worthiness, He gently reminds us we cannot fully grasp all His plans and intent. That is a comfort to me because I don't want to follow a God I can fully comprehend. And the book of Revelation shouts how difficult it is for a man to even find words to describe some of God's incredible plans.
Three, the gospel will spread despite persecution.
I concur with the interpretation that the two witnesses, the temple, the court outside the temple, the holy city, the two olive trees, and the two lampstands symbolize the church. In the New Testament believers are referred to as the temple of the living God (1 Corinthians 3:16). The imagery of the olive trees and lampstands traces back to the Old Testament prophet Zechariah. In context, the meaning of the lampstand (only one) and olive trees was to illustrate that despite a seemingly impossible task God's Spirit, not man's, would make a way to do what God asked (rebuild the temple in the book of Zechariah).
Chapter 11 reinforces that God will bring justice to His people and persecution has an expiration date. No matter how hard the enemy tries, God's church will prevail in proclaiming the gospel, but for a season evil will appear to be winning. But one day God will vanquish all evil, execute full justice, and publicly demonstrate His church belongs to Him and is victorious (Revelation 11:12).
The message God the Father sent through Jesus to an angel to John is the entire book of Revelation. And that message was given to a church walking through an evil world and experiencing suffering and persecution. The message reverberates with great hope for His people then and for us today. We have an eternal anchor for our souls in this fleeting world. The book of Revelation keeps us from drifting away from God, from having our faith crushed on a rocky coast, and enables us to hold our position as children of God no matter what we experience because Christ is our reward.
Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor
Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor
Christ the sure and steady anchor,
In the fury of the storm;
When the winds of doubt blow through me,
And my sails have all been torn.
In the fury of the storm;
When the winds of doubt blow through me,
And my sails have all been torn.
In the suffering, in the sorrow,
When my sinking hopes are few;
I will hold fast to the anchor,
It will never be removed.
Christ the sure and steady anchor,
While the tempest rages on;
When temptation claims the battle,
And it seems the night has won.
Deeper still then goes the anchor,
Though I justly stand accused;
I will hold fast to the anchor,
It shall never be removed.
Christ the sure and steady anchor,
Through the floods of unbelief;
Hopeless somehow, O my soul, now,
Lift your eyes to Calvary.
This my ballast of assurance,
See his love forever proved.
I will hold fast to the anchor,
It will never be removed.
Christ the sure and steady anchor,
As we face the wave of death;
When these trials give way to glory,
As we draw our final breath.
We will cross that great horizon,
Clouds behind and life secure;
And the calm will be the better,
For the storms that we endure.
Christ the sure of our salvation,
Ever faithful, ever true!
We will hold fast to the anchor,
It shall never be removed.
Source: Musixmatch